What Memphis basketball proved in preseason and setting the stage for 2026-27

There are no more exhibition games for Memphis basketball in 2026-27.

From now on, everything counts.

On this episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan sift through all of the many layers of the Nemanja Popović eligibility ruling and its implications. The specifics of the ruling, what we know about the NCAA’s rationale, how Penny Hardaway plans to account for his absence, and why it matters as much as it does. 

Also, Munz and Dylan revisit the Tigers’ exhibition loss at Arkansas, highlight which players proved the most during the preseason, and get into how much pressure the program is facing as it gets set for the season opener against Iowa State. 

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What Memphis basketball proved in preseason and setting the stage for 2026-27